Current-controlling apparatus.



PATBNTED MAR. 26, 1907.

. A. SUNDH. CURRENT CONTROLLING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 12, 1905.

2.3HEETS-SHEET 1.

' WITNESSES? ATTORNEYJ" No. 848,405. PATENT-ED MAR. 26, 1907. A.SUNDH.

CURRENT CONTROLLING APPARATUS.

APPLIOATION FILE-D JUNE 12, 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

7 0 o J v Q l-.

WlTNESSES: INVENTOR aX/ f I ATTORNEYJ ers, in the county of 5 of New York, have'invented a new and use UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AUGUST SUNDH, OF YONKERS, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY, OF JERSEY CITY, JERSEY.

NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW CURRENT-CONTROLLING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March. 26, 1907.

Application filed June 12, 1905. Serial No- 264,772.

zen of the United States, residing at Yonk- Westchester and State ful Improvement paratus, of which tion, 7

My invention relates to current-controlling in Current-Controlling Apthe following is a" specifica- I apparatus, and has for its object the provision of means for increasing the simplicity, 'efiiciencyp compactness, and safety of the various parts of such apparatus.

' A further object of my invention is to so modify the circuit-breakers that they shall be positively actuated under certain conditions. 7

To these and other ,ends myinventioncon sists of the arrangements and combinations of parts hereinafter disclosed, and. pointed ;out in the claims. I My invention will now be fully described, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, in which I r Figure 1 represents in side elevation the means for mounting the parts and mechanism for throwing the main-line switch. Fig. 2 represents. a side elevation,

' tion, of the means for opening one of the reversing-switches of an elevator-controlling system. Fig. 3 is a sectional plan View of certain details, taken on the line AA of Fig. 2; and Fig. 4 shows in elevation the front view of the controlling-board of an elevator system, with the electromagnet switches and main lineswitchmounted thereon. In my copending a plication, Serial No. 249,430, is shown and escribed'an automatic push-button elevator-controlling system emloying single phase alternating currents. "It is to such a system 'of'electr'ic control that thepresent invention is particularly adapted, but may be used separately therefrom, 1f desired, or innny other relation. i

In electric elevator systems in use at the present time it is usually the custom to employ what are known as limit-switches, the purpose of which is to provide against the I overrunnmg of the elevator car beyond its The usual pract ce is to-providethese '--to start and reverse motor is thus cutoff and the bra partly in secbe operated there its normal travel.-

switches with electrical contacts, which are included in the operating or switch-energizing circuits. The operation of such switches is at best very-uncertain, since electricallyoperated switches do not always upon a cessation of current in their energizing magnetcoils, return their parts to an open-circuited or denergized position. This may be caused by any of anumber of reasons, such -.as residual magnetism or sticking of the parts which may take place at the precise moment when it is desired to stop the machine. With my device the above troubles, together with numerous others,- are absolutely overcome, the switches which are used the hoisting-motor being positively forced open by mechanical means o erated by the hoisting-machine itself when t eelevator-car reaches either the top or bottom landings. The current-su ply to the e applied. Furthermore, a similarly-operated means is applied to the main switch, which causes the latter to be forced open should the car for any reason overrun its normal travel, therebycutting off the currentsupply from the entire system.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 4, 10, 11, 12, and 13 designate electrically-operated relays, each relay corresponding to one of the floor-landings and operated from a landing or from the car by a push-button. These relays are similar in construction, and by re ferring to Fig. 1 it will be seen that they comprise a magnet coil and casing 10 and. a magnet-core 25, adapted to be raised by the magnet when the latter is properly energized. To the. upper end of the core isscrewed a stu'd-bolt'ZQ, which passes loosely through the'lcver-arm 28 and has a, nut 27 at its upper end. The arm 28 is pivoted at 29 to a bracket 80, which is rigidly fastened to the switchboard 23 and has at one end the contact-holder 30.

34 desi nates a contact or brush carried by the ho der 30"and pivoted therein at 31.

32 and 33 designate adjusting-screws, the" ose of which is to adjust the position of contact-brush 34 about the ivot3l.

Mounted directly below t e contact-brush I 34 is shown what 'I call the "floor-control ler. It comprises a number of narrow 1 drums, such as 35, the outside face of each having contact segments manned thereon,

which are insulated from the drum itself. These drums are rigidly mounted upon a shaft 36, which is supported by the crosspiece -14, fastened to the swit .:liboard-framework 24. Upon the shaft 36 is rigidly mounted agear-wheel 37, which meshes with a worm +12, the latter being connected to the sprocket-wheel 13. There is also mounted upon the shaft 36 the two arms 38 and 40, each arm havii'ig means for clamping itself rigidly upon the shaft and carrying at its outer end a roller, (shown at and 41.) The sprocket wheel -13 is connected by sprocket-chain or otherwise to some moving part of the hoisting machinery, preferably to a similar sprocket-wheelanounted upon an extension of the hoisting-drum shaft. The ratio of speed reduction between that of the hoisting-drum shaftand that of the controller-drums is of such amount that the rotation of the hoisting-drum between the limits of car travel shall rotate the. controller-drums through an angle of approximately one hundred and eighty degrees.

The main switch 14 is adapted to be closed manually by means of the handle 54 and serves to connect the controller with the source of electrical supply through contacts carried thereon. This switch. is pivoted about the rod 55 and is'limited in its outward motion by the set-screw 56, striking against the standard 81. A spring 57 is supported upon a rod 59 bet-ween the collars 58 and 82 and is put under compression by forcibly closing the switch 14 when the spring tends to move the switch to its open position.

U on closing the switch .11 a catch :33, pivotec at 8% thereto, engages a latclvbar :32, the latter being pivot-ally mounted at 51. The opposite arm 4-9 of the latch-bar 532 has an adjustable weight 50 mounted. thereon. This weight 50 tends to n'iove the arm +10 downwardly to raise the same to engage a roller 4.8 on the swinging arm -16. The weight 50 holds the swinging arm it: in the position shown, as well as the latch-lair 52 in an engaging )osition, with-respect to the catch 53. T 1e catch 53 is also provided with weight 85, a stop 86, and a handle 87.

The swinging arm 1-6, referred to, is pivoted at 45 and has a raised portion or cam-surface upon it at 47, the latter being adapted to be engaged by the roller 39, car ried by the arm 38. The arm 40 is provided with a hooked portion 83 for limiting the outward movement of the arm 46.

15 and 16 designate the reversing-switches, of which there are two. The are similar in construction and operated or closed by mag nets. Each reversing-switch comprises a hinged framework carrying insulated contacts, which cooperate with other fixed contacts mounted on the switchboard 23 when the switch is in its closed position.

The switch-arm 63 (shown in Fig. 2) is pivotcd at 64 and is limited in its outward movement to open position by the setscrew 65. A rod 61, connected to the switcharm at 62, carries a com pression-spring and loose washer 6b, the tendency of the spring being to keep the switch in its open position. The coil 67, together with its core 68, constitutes what is known as a club-footed magnet and when the same is ener ized operates to close the switch against t e action of the spring 60.

A rocking lever 7 6, (see Fig. 3,) hinged at 77 upon the bracket 78, the latter being rigidly mounted upon the switchboard 23, is adapted to be rocked about the pivot 77 upon being pushed by either of the switch-rods 61 or 61. The lever 76 is so arranged with re spect to the rods 61 and 61 that while allowing either of the switches 15 or 16 to be operated it e'flectually prevents their being both closed at the same time.

Two swinging levers 69 and 69 are pivoted at their upper ends about the pivots 70. These levers ar similar in construction, each having a raised portion or cam-face at- 71, adapted to be enga ed by the rollers 72 and 75 when the arms 73 and 74, each carrying one oi these rollers, are revolved into a proper position to produce such engagement.

18 and 19 designate safety or non-interfering magnetic switches. These switches cooperate with each other, being connected by the rocking lever 20, attached to an extension of their respective plungers.

19 designates an inductive compensating resistance device for one of the non-interfering magnets. This inductive resistance device con'iprises a magnet-coil and frame mounted upon the back of the switchboardframe 24.

17 and 21 designate electrically-operated switches, the purpose of which is to cut out or short-circuit the resistance 22 when the mot-or is being started or accelerated.

The operation of my automatic circuitbreaker is as follows: The main switch 14 is first closed by hand. The catch striking the latch-bar 52 is forced upwardly against the action of the weight 85, and as soon as the switch is entirely closed the latch-bar 53 as sumes the position shown in Fig. 1. The switch is held in a closed position by the latch-bar 52. I At the same time astrong tension is placed upon the spring The swinging arm 46 takes up the position shown in Fig. 1, the raised portion 47 being in a position to be engaged by either of the rollers 39 or 41. Upon the closing of a starting but ton or switch the magnet of a floor-relay, such as 10, will be energized to raise its core 25, which, by the intervention of the spring 26, causes the lever 28 to be rocked about the pivot 29 and the contact-brush 34 to engage or make contact with a segmental contact carried by the drum 25. The connection thus made causes the operating-magnet of a reversing-switch, as.15, to become energized, thereby closing its contacts. The switcharm 63 pushes the rod 61 against the rocking lever 76, causing the swinging arm 69 to assume the position shown in Fig. 2, said arm having the raised portion or cam-face 71.in a

, trolli iig system an I hoisting-machine.

the car f,trave ls inleither' direction the s rocket-wheel .43 is positively driven from t e hoistingdrinn shaft; This causes the shaft 36, togetherwith thevarious arms and contact-drums mountedthereon, to revolve. Intermediatesto s of the elzvator-car-thatis, stops-other t an at the top and bottom landingsare' accomplished through the ac-' tion of the contact drums mounted updn the shaft 36. A circuit whichmaintains either of the reversing-switches in a closed position is broken by one of the contact-drums and a corresponding --contact-brush to allow such reversing-switch to become dener'gized and gage the swinging arrest at the cam portion 0 en its contacts, the spring connected to t e switch insuring such 0 ening. As the car reaches either the top or hottom landing, assuming that the reversing-switch-1'5 is closed, a circuit which is energizing this reversing-switch to close its contacts is broken. by one of the -contact-brushes, such-as 34,, and the contact-drum which it engages. T hereversing-switch becoming denergizdwill" tend to open its 'contacts, vassisted by.-the spring 60. At this time the arm-73 and roller .72 have been revolved by the hoisting machine until the said roller engages-the raised portion or cam-face 71 on the swinging arm 69/ This swinging arm is-now forced, against therocking lever 76, thereby causing: the latter to be moved'on its ivot 7 7," The lever'76 in turn pushes the re 61 outwardly: forcing the reversing-switch 15 open, even though its magnet 67 be still energized. Should the'reversingswitch 16 "be operatedv to close its contact andthe elevator-car hasarrivedat the end of its travel, a. swinging arm 69 is operated by the arm'74 and roller 7 5 in a manner just described in connection .With the reversing-switch 15, onlyin' this case the push-rod 61 is forcibly actuated to open the reversing switch 16 instead of the switch 15. Should the hoisting-machine by any possibility move the car beyond the top or bottom limits, one of the rollers39 or 41 will be revolved to such a position as to en- 47. Any. further movement cf the hoistingmachine causes the arm 46 androller 48, carried thereby, to move the lever 49 and bar 52, being an integral part of the lever 49 will be raised out of engagement with the catch 53, carried by the main switch 14, al-' lowing the spring 57 to open its contacts, thereby severing all electrial connection between the controlling system and the sourceof electrical su ply. The revolving arms carried by the ti er-controller shaft 36 may be adjusted about that shaft to such position as to cause the opening of the switches controlled thereby, at any other desiredtime. While the automatic circuit-breakers just described are .shown in the copending applicatiomabove referred to in connection with an alternating current system of electrical control, it is manifestly possible to apply the principle to almost any type of controller.

Having thus disclosed my invention, and without limiting myself to the precise details of construction or arrangement of-parts, but 85 reserving the right to vary the same within the spirit and scope of my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is- 1. The combination in an elevator of a motor-controlling-board with switching apparatus mounted thereon, a rotary floor-controller operatively connected to said switching a paratus, and singlenieans for supporting t eaforesaid parts.

Y 2.rInelevatorapparatus, the combination of a controller board, with switching ap a- -ratus mounted thereon, a floor-controller roperatively 'connected to. said switching apparatus, and framework forsu-pporting all of. '1 0b the aforesaid parts in adjacent relation.

'3; In elevator systems, the combination of 5 a controller board with electromagnetic switches mounted thereon, a floor-controller mounted back of the saidboard, and a single 10 5 i frame for en porting the aforesaid parts.

4. In an'e evator, the combination with a -main-line switch, of floor-controlling apparaitus and means coaeting with said floor-controller for positively throwin said switch 1 rd upon the elevato-r-carrunning eyond a pre determined limitof travel.

5. The combination in a'n eleva'tor with an electric switch, of means for holding said switch in closed position, a floor-controller, a cam movable-With a part of said floor-controller, and means co acting with said cam for releasing said holding means to open said switch.

6. The combination in an elevator with an 1 2o electric switch, of means for holding said switch in closed position, a fioor-controller,

a rotary cam carried" by a part of said floorcontroller, and means coact'mg with said cam for releasing said holding means to open said s 5 switch. v

, "i. .The ceinlcination in an elevator with an electric s'svitch,. of means for-retaining said switch Jclosed ncsitien .floor-controller, a

50 upwardly about the'pivct 57 v The latch cain mevingfwith a part'ot said flqor-con-gIctroller, means coacting with said cam for releasing said retaining means, and means for throwing said switch to open position.

8. The combination in an elevator with a switch, of a latch for holding said switch in closed position, a lloor-controller, a rotary cam carried by a part of said floor-controller, and means coacting with said cam for releasing said latch to open said switch.

9. The combination in an elevator with an electric switch, of means for holding said switch in closed position, a floor-controller, a rotary cam carried by a part of said floor-controller, a cam-lever cooperating with said 1'0- tary cam, and means connected with said camlever for releasing said holding means.

10. The combination with an electric switch, of means for holding said switch in closed position, a pivoted lever having a camface, means connected to said lever for releasing said holding means, and a cam acting on said cam-face to actuate said lever.

11. The combination in an elevator with an electric switch, of means for retaining said switch in closed position, a floor-controller, actuating means for releasing said retaining means, and a plurality of rotatably1nounted cams for operating said actuating means and movable with a part of said floor-controller.

12. The con'ihination in an elevator with an electric switch, of automatic means for holding said switch in closed position, a lloorcontroller, a cam carried by a rotating part of said floor-controller, and means coacting with said cam for releasing said holding means.

13. The combination with an electric switch, of means i or holding said switch in clhsed position, a lever pivoted at its upper end, a projection on the lower end of said lever, and a cam for actuating said lever and projection to eil'ect a release of said holding means.

14. The combination with an electric. switch, of automatic means for holding said switch in closed position, a pivoted lever, a cam at the end thereof, means cooperating with said automatic holding means for releasing the same, and an additionalcam for actuating said lever.

15. The conibination with an electric switch, of means for locking the same in closed posit ion, a pivoted lever, and means eonnected to said. lever and coacting with said locking means for unlocking the same, means for limiting the movement of said lever in both directions, and means for actuating said lever.

16. The combination with an electrh: switch, of locking means therefor, a lover connected thereto, a pivoted lever, a cam at the lower end of said pivoted lever and eo acting with said 'lirstmamcd lever, means onthe first-named lever for limiting the outward movement of said pivoted lever, and means for actuating said last-named lever.

17. The combination with an electric switch, of automatic locking means for holding said switch in closed position, a lever con neetcd thereto, an additional lever pivoted at its upper end, a cam at the lower end of said additional lever and arranged to actuate said first-named lever to etl'ect the unlocking of said holding means, and a cam rotatably mounted adjacent the upper end of said additional lever for actuating the latter.

18. The combination in an elevator with an electric switch, of manual means for closing said switch, means for holding said switch in closed position, means coacting with said holding means for releasing-the same, means for throwing said switch to open position upon release of the holding means, a floorcontroller, and a cam coacting with said l'loorcontroller for actuating said releasing means.

19. The combination with a floor-controller of an elevator system, of electromagnetic switches cooperatii'ig therewith, a supplemental switch, means for holding said last-named switch in closed position, and means actuated by said floor-controller for releasing said holding means.

20. The combination with an electromagnetic relay comprising a rotatable contactcarrier, an electric switch, means for holding said switch in. closed position, relaying mechanism, an actuating device, and means for rotating said contact-carrier and actuating dcvice to cause thelatter to actuate said relaying mechanism to et l'ect the opening of sa id switch at a predetermined time.

21. The combination with a floor-con troller of an electric elevator system, said controller comprising electromagnetic relays and a rotatable drum, of a cam connected to rotate with said drum, an electric snitch. means for holding said switch in closed position, and means coacting with said cam for releasing said holding means.

The combination with a floor-controller of an. elevator system comprising a rotatable part, of cam-arms rigidly connected to move with. said rotatable part, a main-line switch, means for holding said switch in closed position, and means coacting with said cam-arms for releasing said holding means to throw the main-line switch upon the rotatable part exceeding the predetermined limits of its normal rotation.

22:1. The combination with reversin switches oi a motor-controlling system. ol'

. means l'or preventing the closing of both of said switches at the same time, and automatic means for positively actuating the closed switch to open the same.

2 1-. The conibil'iation with reversingswitchcs of a motor-controlling system, o'l' electromagnetic means for holding said switches in closed position, mechanical means for preventing the closing of both of said switches at the same time, and means 'electromagnets for operating said switches,

v predetermined limit.

floor-controller, cams rigidly connected to connections between said cams and reversingfor positivelyj,-actuating one of saidswi-tches when closed to'opefithe same;

25; The combination with the reversingswitches of an electric elevator system, electromagnetic means for closing said switches, afioOr-coritroller, and means coacting with said fioorscontroller'for positively actuating said switches to open the same.

switches of 'an electric elevator system, of electromagnets for holding said switches in closed position, a'fioor-controller, and means coacting with said floor-controller for posi-' tively opening the closed reversin -switch upon the movement of said contro lerf to a 27. The combination with reversingswitches of an electric elevator system of afloor-controller rotatably mounted, 'electro-- magnets for closing and holding closed said switches, and means .coacting with said floorcontroller for positively actuating said reversing-switches to move the same to open position at or near the limits of rotation of said controller. i

28. The combination with switches, of electromagnets for operating same, means for reventing the closing of more than one switch at a time, a rotatable saidfioor-controller to move therewith, and

switches and arranged to be actuated by saidcams to positively open s'aidswitches at or near the limits of travel of said controller and earns.

switches of an electricelevator system, of

means for throwing said switches to open po- I sition upondeenergization of said magnets,

I mined limitof trave 26. The combination with reversingreversingmeans preventingthelclosing of mo're than one switch at a t1me, a floor-controller rota"-, tably mounted cams secured thereto to move therewith, and meansv actuated by said 5 camsfore ening a closed switch upon the approach. 0 one of said; cams to a predetermined ,limit .corres onding-to a predeterf the elevator-car.-

30. The

electromagnets for o crating sai switches, plun 'ers pivoted to t e movable part of sald switc es, a pivoted lever havinglts ends adend adjacent oneend of said first-named lever, a floor-controller, and means connected to said floor-controller for actuating said ad- I combination with reversingswitches of motor-controlling-ap aratus, of

ditional levers to efiect the opening of said reversing-switches. I

31. The combination with reversingswitches of motor-controlling ap aratus, of electromagnets for o crating sai switches, plungers pivoted to t e lower portions of the movable parts of said switches, a lever horizontally pivoted and having its ends. adjacent the ends' of said plungers, pivoted suspended levers having their lower ends ad'acent the ends of said horizontal lever, an a rotatable cam actuating said suspended levers to open said switches when said cam arrives at a predetermined point in its travel.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

v AUGUST SUNDH.

Witnesses: I

FRANK T. BROWN, CHARLES M. NISS'EN. 

